Beam wrapping



1935- I c. A. KEMPER 1,988,081

BEAM WRAPP'ING F iled Nov. 19, 1952 Calvin A.Kem er INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 15, 1935 I UNITED sTAr This invention relates to improvements in beam wrapping which is used to reinforce concrete placed around steel beams for fireproofing poses g As is known, forms are secured around the same, or for other purposes.

There are various forms of beam wrapp 011 the market at the present time, which have certain disadvantageous features which the present improvements are designed to remedy.

For example, one widely used wrapping, while it' is expansible to enable the same to be used on beams of different widths, is'so constructed that upon lateral expansion it is longitudinally Another disadvantage of the type mentioned and other types on themarket is that the longitudinalreinforcing rods or wires are not arranged so as to provide adequate reinforcement for the concrete at the corners of a beam. which frequently necessitates that workmen wire or otherwise attach reinforcing rods to the wrapping in order that the construction specifications be complied with.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wrapping structure which remedies the above mentioned disadvantages and others by the provision of a wrapping comprising transverse clips which are expansible to enable their use on beams of varying sizes, and having longitudinal reinforcing wires which are not shortened by the expansion of the clips, the arrangement of the longitudinal reinforcing being such that the corners of the concrete enclosing a beam will be adequately reinforced and also spaced suitably from the face of the beam.

Other objects relate to various features of construction which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a transverse section through an I-beam showing the improved beam wrapping attached thereto,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the beam wrapping in expanded position and attached to a wider beam in a slightly different manner.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a section of Wrapping, and

Figure 4 is a broken transverse section of a beam showing the improved wrapping thereon, but having a different number of longitudinal reinforcing wires or bars.

In the drawing, 10 indicates a conventional steel beam s en as may be usecl'in the erection of buildings forfjexample, and which generally are enclosed in concrete for fire proofing purthe[beams into; which the concrete is placed. However, itis frequently necessary that this concrete be suitably reinforced and in the drawing a beam*-wrapping embodying the present im- PATENT OFFICE;

provementsis shown attached to one flange only 10 of the beam.

The beam wrapping preferably comprises a plurality-' of longitudinally extending reinforcing wires "or rods 11 which may be welded to the transverse clips which are indicated generally by the numeral 12. I

In the form of the invention shown, each clip is provided with a central portion which is reversely bent to form folds "or convolutions 13 which permit of the expansion of the clips to enable the same'to be attached to beams of various widths. Thus in Figure 2 the transverse member 12 is shown expanded to accommodate the beam 14 having flanges wider than the flanges of beam 10. The lateral or end folds or convolutions of the member 12 as shown in Figure 1, 3 and 4, terminate in arms 15 which may be bent over the rear of the adjacent flanges of the beam to hold the wrapping in position. The arms may be sufficiently long, however, to extend over the opposite flange and be bent over the diagonal corner of the beam as shown at 15a in Figure 2, Where the building specification renders this mode of attachment desirable. The reinforcing rods 11 preferably are secured to these lateral folds as shown in the drawing. It is preferred to weld the rods in position.

It will be seen from an examination of Figures 1 and 2 that this construction of the wrapping is such that reinforcing rods 11 will always be positioned adjacent the corners of the beam to provide adequate reinforcement at these places. If desired additional reinforcing rods such as rod 17 may be secured to the intermediate folds. By this construction the improved wrapping can be attached readily to beams or other structures by means of the arms 15 or 15a. The folds 13 of each transverse member 12 are disposed substantially at right angles to the face of the beam and serve as spacing members to space the intermediate rods a suitable distance from the face of the beam. As many members 12 per section of wrapping may be used as may be desired either to support the longitudinal rods or to provide reinforcement supplemental to that provided by the rods.

It will also be apparent that the expansion of the transverse member does not effect a foreshortening of the reinforcing rods 11 as in certain types of present day wrapping.

Other shapes of folds may, of course, be used but the plait-like folds of the transverse members or clips is preferred.

Another advantageous feature of the present invention resides in the fact that as the clips are extended, the portions, 18 maintain their angular relation with respect to the arms 15 and thus serve to space the rods 11 a uniform distance from the face of the beam. This result accrues not only because of the angular disposition of the portions 18 which is shown as being approximately forty-five degrees with respect to arms-l5, but because the reinforcing rods 11 are seated in the acute angles formed by arms 15 and portions;

The inter-..

18 and are welded to the same. mediate rods 17 are also preferably welded in position but due tothe curvature of the ends of the folds to which the rods are attached, the welded connection does not limit the flexing of the intermediate portion of the clips. A further advantage of the present constructionresides in the fact that additional longitudinal supporting rods may be positioned in folds of the clips by workmen after a section of wrapping has been secured to a beam-where such additional reinforcing is considered advisable. In such instances the rods may be wired in place, if desired, or may be loosely positioned :in the folds of the clips which will support the additional rods in horizontal alignment and in spaced relation with respect to the other intermediate rods which may have been welded in place at the factory. Thus in Figure 4 a wrapping is shown, the clips of which are provided with additional folds for accommodating a greater number of intermediate rods 17, all of which may be welded in place or some of which may be positioned by workmen after the wrapping has been attached to a beam.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my present improvements for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A concrete reinforcing device fabricated in a predetermined length comprising a plurality of transverse members each having an intermediate portion and suporting arms at each end thereof arranged substantially at right angles to the face of a supporting structure, said intermediate portions being provided with one or more extensible plait -like folds to enable the members to be extended transversely of said structure, and longitudinal reinforcing members secured to said transverse members adjacent the juncture of said intermediate portions and said arms whereby said reinforcing members will always be located adjacent a corner of the concrete enclosing said structure regardless of the degree of extension of said transverse members.

2. A reinforcing structure fabricated in predetermined lengths comprising a plurality of transverse members having supporting arms at the ends thereof and one or more extensible intermediate folds integrally united to said arms by portions forming acute angles therewith, and longitudinal reinforcing members positioned within the angle at the juncture of said portions and arms and being welded to the same to thereby resist change in the angular relation of said portions with said arms when said transverse members are extended whereby said portions will space said reinforcing members uniformly from a supporting structure.

CALVIN A. KEMPER. 

